Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases.

Bad RomanceBy: Heather DemetriosRelease Date: June 13, 2017Grace wants out. Out of
her house, where her stepfather wields fear like a weapon and her mother
makes her scrub imaginary dirt off the floors. Out of her California
town, too small to contain her big city dreams. Out of her life, and
into the role of Parisian artist, New York director—anything but scared
and alone. Enter Gavin: charming, talented, adored. Controlling.
Dangerous. When Grace and Gavin fall in love, Grace is sure it's too
good to be true. She has no idea their relationship will become a prison
she's unable to escape. Deeply affecting and unflinchingly honest, this is a story about spiraling into darkness—and emerging into the light again. (Goodreads)

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases.

Blacksouls (Blackhearts #2)By: Nicole CastromanRelease Date: April 11, 2017Edward “Teach” Drummond
is setting sail to the Caribbean as first mate on the most celebrated
merchant ship in the British fleet—until he rebels against his captain.
Mutiny is a capital offense and Teach knows it could cost him his life,
but he believes it worth the risk in order to save his crew from the
attacking Spanish ships. Sailing on the same blue waters, Anne
barely avoids the Spanish attack, making it safely to Nassau. But
lawless criminals, corrupt politics, and dangerous intentions fill the
crowded streets of this Caribbean port. Soon, Anne discovers that the
man entrusted to keep the peace is quite possibly the most treacherous
of them all—and he just happens to hold Teach’s fate in his terrifying
hands. Life and death hang in the balance when Teach and Anne are
given a dangerous mission. It’s a mission that will test their love,
loyalty and devotion, forcing them down a path neither one could have
ever imagined. (Goodreads)

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

The Female of the Species By: Mindy McGinnisRelease Date: September 20, 2016Source: PurchasedPurchase the Book: AmazonAlex Craft knows how to
kill someone. And she doesn’t feel bad about it. When her older sister,
Anna, was murdered three years ago and the killer walked free, Alex
uncaged the language she knows best. The language of violence. While
her crime goes unpunished, Alex knows she can’t be trusted among other
people, even in her small hometown. She relegates herself to the
shadows, a girl who goes unseen in plain sight, unremarkable in the high
school hallways. But Jack Fisher sees her. He’s the guy all
other guys want to be: the star athlete gunning for valedictorian with
the prom queen on his arm. Guilt over the role he played the night
Anna’s body was discovered hasn’t let him forget Alex over the years,
and now her green eyes amid a constellation of freckles have his
attention. He doesn’t want to only see Alex Craft; he wants to know her. So
does Peekay, the preacher’s kid, a girl whose identity is entangled
with her dad’s job, though that does not stop her from knowing the taste
of beer or missing the touch of her ex-boyfriend. When Peekay and Alex
start working together at the animal shelter, a friendship forms and
Alex’s protective nature extends to more than just the dogs and cats
they care for. Circumstances bring Alex, Jack, and Peekay
together as their senior year unfolds. While partying one night, Alex’s
darker nature breaks out, setting the teens on a collision course that
will change their lives forever. (Goodreads)The Female of the Specieswas a dark and relevantstory. Not only did it make me cry, but this story also made me think a lot. The first time I heard about this book, I didn't think it was going to be for me. However, once I started to read more reviews, I knew I had to read this book and I'm so happy that I did. This is definitely one of those books that is going to stick with me for a long time.

The Female of the Species is the story of Alex, Jack, and Peekay. Alex is familiar with violence and doesn't feel guilty about it. Her older sister was murdered years ago and her killer was never punished. She now carefully hides away in the background every day. Next there is Jack, the popular guy at school whocan't seem to stop thinking about Alex. Lastly there is Peekay, the preacher's daughter, who doesn't want to be the good girl she is expected to be.

Alex was a complex and well developed character. She believes that she is too dangerous to be around people so she's taught herself to blend into the background. It was interesting to get to know Alex piece by piece. She isn't all that great with humans, but she is great with the animals at the shelter where she works.

Jack was a well developed character too, but wasn't always very likable. He worries a lot about getting stuck in a small town for the rest of his life so he works hard to make sure he can get out. I loved the relationship that developed between Jack and Alex though. I thought that it was paced really well.

Peekay was a well developed character as well and I enjoyed getting to know her. She is so jealous of her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend that she can't seem to think of much else. I loved the friendship that developed between Alex and Peekay though. They didn't seem like they would share much in common at the start, but I loved the close bond that formed between them. I also really loved the whole emphasis on female friendship that McGinnis made throughout this book.

The plot was paced well and held my attention. It was difficult to put this book down for any amount of time because I just couldn't stop thinking about it. It's been days since Ifinishedthis book and I still can't stop thinking about it. The plot is dark and handles a variety of topics really well. McGinnis makes a real and important statement about rape culture and gender throughout this book.Each of the three characters observes and reacts to what is occurring around them in different ways. McGinnis truly does a great job at showing you three entirely different perspectives.

Overall I loved The Female of the Species. It's one of the most brutally honest and relevant books that I've read all year.I highly recommend picking this one up!

Monday, October 17, 2016

What LightBy: Jay AsherReleased: October 18, 2016Source: E-Galley from First To ReadPurchase the Book: Amazon*A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest reviewSierra's family runs a
Christmas tree farm in Oregon—it's a bucolic setting for a girl to grow
up in, except that every year, they pack up and move to California to
set up their Christmas tree lot for the season. So Sierra lives two
lives: her life in Oregon and her life at Christmas. And leaving one
always means missing the other. Until this particular Christmas, when Sierra meets Caleb, and one life eclipses the other. By reputation, Caleb is not your perfect guy: years ago, he made an
enormous mistake and has been paying for it ever since. But Sierra sees
beyond Caleb's past and becomes determined to help him find forgiveness
and, maybe, redemption. As disapproval, misconceptions, and suspicions
swirl around them, Caleb and Sierra discover the one thing that
transcends all else: true love. What Light is a love story that's moving and life-affirming and completely unforgettable. (Goodreads)

What Light was one of my most anticipated books of this year and I loved it! I'm already looking forward to rereading it again very soon. I'm not much of a fan of Christmas stories, but I still had to read this one because Jay Asher is one of my favorite writers and I'm so happy that I did. What Light is so much more than just a Christmas story, but it did still manage to put even me in a holiday mood.

What Light is the story of Sierra who lives on a Christmas tree farm in Oregon. Every year, during Christmastime,she moves with her parents to California to work on a Christmas tree lot and sell the trees they grow back home. She's lived her whole life splitting her time between both Oregon and California. However this year, her time in California is turning out to be much different.

Sierra was a well developed character that I truly enjoyed getting to know.I admired how loyal and protective shewas of the people she loved. She has her flaws too though, butthose just made her that much more realistic.I could certainly understand why she would be torn about splitting her year between two places. I loved the setting in both Oregon and California and I found myself feeling just as torn about both places.Sierra leaves behind her two best friends in Oregon and misses out on spending the holidays at home. However, she has a best friend in California too and only gets to see her for a short time each year. I loved the relationship she shared with all of her friends though because it was clear how much she cared for them and wanted more time.I also loved the relationship that Sierra shared with her parents too and how close they were as a family.

Caleb was a really interesting and well developed character. He has a past thatmost of the townwon't forget. He's trying to move on and find forgiveness though.I loved the relationship that develops between Sierra and Caleb. It was realistic and paced really well. I liked that they took their time getting to know each other.

The plot was paced well and I didn't want to stop reading once I started.Iespecially loved that Asher took his time letting you get to know the characters because it just made me feel that much more invested in them.What Lightdefinitelysent me through a variety of emotions though. I smiled, laughed, and cried a lot while reading. This book also left me with a serious craving for a cup of hot chocolate with a candy cane.

Overall, I loved What Light! It was an emotional story about falling in love, second chances, and growing up. If you're a fan of contemporary books or holiday stories, I definitely recommend picking this one up.

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases.

Alex, ApproximatelyBy: Jenn BennettRelease Date: April 4, 2017In this delightfully charming teen spin on You’ve Got Mail, the one guy Bailey Rydell can’t stand is actually the boy of her dreams—she just doesn’t know it yet. Classic
movie buff Bailey “Mink” Rydell has spent months crushing on a witty
film geek she only knows online by “Alex.” Two coasts separate the teens
until Bailey moves in with her dad, who lives in the same California
surfing town as her online crush. Faced with doubts (what if he’s a creep in real life—or worse?),
Bailey doesn’t tell Alex she’s moved to his hometown. Or that she’s
landed a job at the local tourist-trap museum. Or that she’s being
heckled daily by the irritatingly hot museum security guard, Porter
Roth—a.k.a. her new arch-nemesis. But life is whole lot messier than the
movies, especially when Bailey discovers that tricky fine line between
hate, love, and whatever-it-is she’s starting to feel for Porter. And
as the summer months go by, Bailey must choose whether to cling to a
dreamy online fantasy in Alex or take a risk on an imperfect reality
with Porter. The choice is both simpler and more complicated than she
realizes, because Porter Roth is hiding a secret of his own: Porter is
Alex…Approximately. (Goodreads)

Monday, October 10, 2016

My Unscripted LifeBy: Lauren MorrillReleased: October 11, 2016Source: NetgalleyPurchase the Book: Amazon*A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest reviewSometimes love stories go off script. Another
sultry Georgia summer is about to get a lot hotter. Dee Wilkie is still
licking her wounds after getting rejected by the precollege fine arts
program of her dreams. But if she'd gone away, she wouldn't have been
around to say yes to an unbelievable opportunity: working on the set of a
movie filming in her small Southern town that just happens to be
starring Milo Ritter, the famous pop star Dee (along with the rest of
the world) has had a crush since eighth grade. It's not like Dee
will be sharing any screen time with Milo—she's just a lowly PA. And
Milo is so disappointingly rude that Dee is eager to stay far away from
him. Except after a few chance meetings, she begins to wonder if just
maybe there's a reason for his offensive attitude, and if there's more
to Milo than his good looks and above-it-all Hollywood pedigree. Can a
relationship with a guy like Milo ever work out for a girl like Dee?
Never say never. . . (Goodreads)I really enjoyed My Unscripted Lifea lot! It was such a cute story filled with drama that I couldn't put down.My Unscripted Life is the story of Dee who becomes a PA on a movie set after her original summer plans fall through. The star of the movie just so happens to be Milo, the pop star she's had a huge crush on for years. However, it turns out that he isn't exactly who she imagined him to be. Dee was a well developed protagonist. I liked her a lot because she wasrealistic. She has her flaws and she could get caught up in her own head sometimes, especially when it came to boys. I really loved how she learns a lot about herself over the course of the summer though.

This book was packed with great side characters that I just wanted even more of. I loved Dee's parents and I especially loved the relationship that she shared with them. I also loved Dee'sfriendship with her best friend, Naz. However, I would have loved to see even more of it. Then I loved the moments that Dee shared with her fellow crew members, Carly and Benny.Lastly, I also really enjoyed getting to know Milo. I thought that the relationship that formed between Milo and Dee was really cute. However, I felt like their relationship was really rushed. I would have loved to see it develop more and slow down at times because I felt like it all happened way too quickly. My Unscripted Lifewas filled with a lot of drama and some romance. It was just what I expected from a movie set where the lead is a famous pop star.The plot was paced fast and I ended up reading this book in one day. At times, I just felt like I wanted more from certain scenes. I completely loved the setting in the small town andon the movie set a lot though. I especially loved all of the specific details that Morrill went into when describingthe movie set. It was fun to read and learn more about what goes into making a film. Overall, I really enjoyed My Unscripted Life a lot. If you're looking for a light and cute contemporary book, then I definitely recommend picking this one up. It's filled with a great group of characters in a fun setting and you won't be able to put it down. My Rating:

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases.

By Your SideBy: Kasie WestRelease Date: February 14, 2017In this irresistible
story, Kasie West explores the timeless question of what to do when you
fall for the person you least expect. Witty and romantic, this paperback
original from a fan favorite is perfect for fans of Stephanie Perkins
and Morgan Matson. When Autumn Collins finds herself accidentally
locked in the library for an entire weekend, she doesn’t think things
could get any worse. But that’s before she realizes that Dax Miller is
locked in with her. Autumn doesn’t know much about Dax except that he’s
trouble. Between the rumors about the fight he was in (and that brief
stint in juvie that followed it) and his reputation as a loner, he’s not
exactly the ideal person to be stuck with. Still, she just keeps
reminding herself that it is only a matter of time before Jeff, her
almost-boyfriend, realizes he left her in the library and comes to
rescue her. Only he doesn’t come. No one does. Instead it
becomes clear that Autumn is going to have to spend the next couple of
days living off vending-machine food and making conversation with a boy
who clearly wants nothing to do with her. Except there is more to Dax
than meets the eye. As he and Autumn first grudgingly, and then not so
grudgingly, open up to each other, Autumn is struck by their surprising
connection. But can their feelings for each other survive once the
weekend is over and Autumn’s old life, and old love interest, threaten
to pull her from Dax’s side? (Goodreads)

Monday, October 3, 2016

The Lovely RecklessBy: Kami GarciaReleased: October 4, 2016Source: NetgalleyPurchase the Book: Amazon*A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest reviewI’ve become an expert at avoiding things that could hurt me—which means I will figure out how to stay away from Marco Leone. Seventeen-year-old
Frankie Devereux would do anything to forget the past. Haunted by the
memory of her boyfriend’s death, she lives her life by one dangerous
rule: Nothing matters. At least, that’s what Frankie tells herself after
a reckless mistake forces her to leave her privileged life in the
Heights to move in with her dad—an undercover cop. She transfers to a
public high school in the Downs, where fistfights don’t faze anyone and
illegal street racing is more popular than football. Marco Leone
is the fastest street racer in the Downs. Tough, sexy, and hypnotic, he
makes it impossible for Frankie to ignore him—and how he makes her feel.
But the risks Marco takes for his family could have devastating
consequences for them both. When Frankie discovers his secret, she has
to make a choice. Will she let the pain of the past determine her
future? Or will she risk what little she has left to follow her heart? (Goodreads)I really enjoyed The Lovely Reckless a lot. I couldn't put this book down and stayed up until four am to finish it. I've been a fan of Kami Garcia's books for years and this may have just become my favorite book she's written yet.The Lovely Reckless is the story of Frankie who is struggling with the memory of her boyfriend's death. After making a huge mistake, she moves in with father and leaves behind her privileged life in the Heights with her mom to transfer to the public school. Frankie was a well developed character. She's been through so much the past few months and can't be the girl she used to be anymore. She isn't going to sit back anymore and be told who she should be. She shares a complicated relationship with both of her parents because she feels as though neither of them truly listen to what she really wants. I admired how loyal Frankie was though and what she would do to help a friend in need.

I really liked the relationship that she develops with Marco. The chemistry between them was clearly evident on the pages. However, I felt like the pacing of their relationship happened a bit too fast. I really liked Marco a lot though. He has this really complicated past and feels as though his hands are tied. I especially admired the way he took care of his sister. This book was filled with great side characters such as Lex, Cruz, and Abel. I really enjoyed how each character had their own interesting side storyline going on. However, I wanted more from each of them. I felt like each of their side stories just dropped off by the last half of the book and I wanted more closure for each character. My favorite character in this whole book was definitely Cruz though. Cruz is Marco's friend and she races cars. Honestly, I would love to read a whole book that's just about Cruz. She was so interesting and tough, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that perhaps Garcia will write a companion book.

The plot hooked me in immediately and I couldn't put this book down. The plot was paced fairly well and I never felt like it dragged on. If anything I just felt like it went a bit too fast at times. I also really liked the whole setting a lot, especially the street racing scenes. I felt like I was at the street races with these characters. However, this book just left me feeling like I wanted more though. I wanted more of the street racing, more of the relationship that Frankie shared with her previous boyfriend, and more closure for all of the characters. There are a lot of minor subplots occurring throughout this book and I felt as though it didn't all come together at the end. Which is why again I'm hoping there will be some companion books about the side characters.

Overall though I really enjoyed The Lovely Reckless a lot! If you're a fan of contemporary books, then The Lovely Reckless is a must read. My Rating:

Disclaimer

All reviews published on this blog are based on books that I have either purchased myself or received from an author or publisher in exchange for an honest review. It is noted in the review whether I purchased a book myself or received the book from the publisher or author. I receive no compensation from any of the reviews that I publish. Unless otherwise noted, all photos used on this blog are from Google and are not owned by me.